Meet The Team

Our entire staff here at The Blanchard Institute is extremely passionate about the work we do. Everyone brings with them their own unique set of skills and experience, and together, we form an unstoppable team that’s dedicated to helping our patients. We look forward to being a part of your journey to recovery.

Ward Blanchard, Founder/CEO LCAS, CSI, MA

Nearly 10 years ago, Ward Blanchard found his life’s passion: working in the field of mental health and addiction. Growing up in a small coastal town on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Ward’s desire to help others was cultivated through the small-town values of service, hard work, and volunteering.

Ward’s professional career began in business as he represented the third generation to work at Kellogg Supply Company, a building supply and lumber chain founded by his grandfather. Working in an established family company provided Ward with the opportunity to understand the value of relationships, communication, and integrity. Although Ward thoroughly enjoyed working in business and with his family’s company, the field of psychology and the “helping profession” were careers always close to his heart.

Coachella Valley in Southern California provided Ward an environment where he could continue furthering his education while working alongside some of the world’s most well-known addiction and mental health treatment centers, such as The Betty Ford Center, Michael’s House Treatment Center and Foundations Recovery Network. Ward moved to Palm Desert, California and went back to school in 2008 to receive his master’s degree in psychology, marriage, and family therapy. Specializing in addiction, Ward obtained his advanced addiction counseling education and credentials through the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADC-II), which required a minimum of 8,000 hours of supervised counseling experience. Ward is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) and has worked in all facets of addiction treatment: interventions, admissions, business development, therapy, continuing care and operations.

Allison Christie, Chief Operating Officer MBA, MA

Allison Christie is from Chicago, IL. She joined The Blanchard Institute in April 2016. Allison graduated from Middlebury Institute of International Studies Fisher Business School with a Master’s Degree in International Business Administration. After living overseas for twenty years she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and decided to follow her passion and enter the field of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Allison has a keen interest in supporting families and is a Certified ARISE® Interventionist I (CAI-I).

George L. Raad, Medical DirectorMD

Dr. George Raad has treated over 28,000 moderate to high acuity patients during his thirty-plus year career as Medical Director for an urban inpatient medical detoxification program. Dr. Raad has been innovative in his response to changing patients and changing drugs in the substance use disorder field, and he has earned high patient satisfaction scores during his tenure.

He is the past recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Jody Kellerman award for excellence in the field of substance abuse treatment. Dr. Raad is a much sought-after trainer and expert in the field of substance use disorders. He has presented to many varied professional groups and has appeared on numerous television reports on addiction. He has a private family medicine practice, a concierge medical practice and a research facility in Charlotte, NC.

Judy Goodwin, Director of Admissions

Judy Goodwin brings 24 years of knowledge and experience working as an Admissions Coordinator in the field and is well connected to the community and behavioral health industry. She has a volunteer history working with the Union County Substance Abuse Task Force, NC MADD, Union County Public Schools and various community organizations.

Judy can often be heard telling others “this is not a job… it is a calling.” Judy is usually the first point of contact for our clients and welcomes the opportunity to help those seeking help.

Samantha Hampson, Clinical Director LCSW, LCAS, SCI, ICAADC

Samantha Hampson was born and raised in Europe but has lived in the Carolinas for the last 15 years. She has been providing Mental Health and Substance Abuse services in the Carolinas for the last few years. Samantha obtained her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the College of Charleston and her Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Samantha has experience in emergency medical social work, mental health treatment with adolescents, and treating adults in outpatient substance abuse programs. Samantha is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and an Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Samantha’s approach to treatment is helping individuals find hope and motivation for life in recovery. Samantha believes that involving the individual in their treatment plan is vital in developing investment in recovery and aids in fostering trust between therapist and client.

Ralph G. Meachum, Primary TherapistMdiv, CSAC, CBT, MRT

Ralph G. Meachum, a native of Greensboro, NC, obtained a Master’s of Divinity with a concentration in pastoral care and counseling from Emory University. He has worked in the Mental Health field for more than a decade with a heavy concentration in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. He is an established Director and Clinician with a proven track record of leadership. He has demonstrated success in all aspects of a clinical environment with a primary focus on patient care and developing effective family support systems. Ralph is branded as an engaging leader that utilizes creativity, collaboration and effective communication to drive sustainable change.

Stacey Surratt, Primary TherapistMS, LCAS-A, MT-BC

Stacey Surratt is a NC native, and happy to be back in the state. Stacey completed her Master’s degree in Music Therapy at Radford University and is a nationally Board-Certified Music Therapist. Stacey has worked clinically in a variety of settings including hospital programs, outpatient treatment facilities, rehab clinics, and in private practice. Her focus areas have included children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral diagnoses, adult mental health treatment, and outpatient substance abuse treatment. In addition to music therapy board certification, Stacey is also a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate. Stacey works from a relationship-based approach and enjoys incorporating creativity and multi-sensory tools into therapy sessions.

Kristen Feemster, Primary TherapistLMFTA, LCAS-A

Kristen obtained a Bachelor Degree in Psychology from Western Carolina University and her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Tennessee State University. Her past work has included counseling and advocacy for interpersonal violence survivors and school-based therapy for adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges; as well as therapy for individuals, couples, and families seeking recovery from addiction. Kristen is passionate about guiding others along the challenging, yet rewarding, road to recovery. Kristen is dually licensed as a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate and a Marriage and Family Therapist Associate.

Cat Glenn, AssessorCSAC-I

Cat Glenn grew up in Charlotte, NC, and returned after graduating from Fordham University in the Bronx, NY with a Bachelors in Political Science. Cat’s post-graduate studies continued at CPCC where she graduated with two certificate degrees in both Substance Abuse Counseling and Substance Abuse Prevention. Cat is currently in her last year of pursuing a master’s degree in International Addiction Studies. Cat began in the field volunteering with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, then interned at Center for Prevention services before counseling at a local outpatient facility. Cat is currently registered with the North Carolina Substance Abuse Practicing Board for both Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) and Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant (CSAPC) credentials and is working toward full certification.

Megan Faulkner, Executive Assistant/HR Coordinator

Megan Faulkner began working in Public Health in 2003 after earning a Masters’ of Science degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. In both North and South Carolina, she tackled a wide range of community-level health issues ranging from environmental carcinogens to childhood obesity to suicide prevention. As a trained volunteer, Megan answered crisis calls for the South Carolina 2-1-1 Hotline using active listening and problem-solving skills to find quality help for callers in need. After several years at home with her three small children, Megan now enjoys her role as one of The Blanchard Institute’s Office Administrators.

Shelley WoodAdmissions Coordinator

Shelley Wood holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from UNC Charlotte. Previously in Financial Services, Personal Training, and most recently, Creative Arts, Shelley is excited to shift her focus back to Behavioral Health at The Blanchard Institute. As one of our Office Administrators, she is delighted to welcome our clients as they arrive at Blanchard with a warm smile and a caring heart.

Anthony Simmons, Accountant

Anthony Simmons is from Washington, D.C. He studied Business Administration Accounting at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Anthony spent 18 years working for the Federal Government at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as a Staff Accountant and at the U.S. House of Representatives as the Chief Administrative Officer. He moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and started a new career at Carolinas Healthcare System (Atrium) as an Accountant and after 4 years there, he joined The Blanchard Institute. In his free time, Anthony enjoys the golf driving range at TopGolf and loves traveling with his husband.

Amy Shine, Office Administrator

Amy Shine holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix. After spending many years in the financial industry and then as a stay at home mother, Amy decided to shift careers and move towards helping people change their lives for the better in the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder fields. As The Blanchard Institute’s office administrator, Amy enjoys being the first point of contact as our clients enter the facility. Amy enjoys spending her spare time with her family and volunteering with various organizations around Mecklenburg and Lancaster counties.

Emily Nelson, Recovery Technician

Emily Nelson is from Richmond, Virginia. She joined the Blanchard Institute in November, 2018. Emily studied at University of South Carolina where she spent a majority of her time studying nursing and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Emily is licensed as a Practical Nurse and has a passion to help those struggling with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.

GibbsTherapy Dog

Gibbs the therapy dog, born in raised in Southern California, moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2014 to continue to cultivate her passion of delivering cuteness, comfort, and adorability to anyone and everyone she encounters. Gibbs was drawn into the field of substance abuse and behavioral health after her own personal recovery from a process addiction with chewing shoes and furniture.

She understands how such an addiction truly is a family disease—impacting the whole family. Gibbs is intelligent, focused, enjoys attention and being pet behind the ears. Gibbs received formal education through The Dog Knowledge Obedience School of Charlotte, NC. She graduated with spectacular mediocracy in obedience but excelled in the subjects of advanced charm, good looks, and tennis-ball catching. She loves riding horses, eating a good hot dog, listening to Dave Matthews Band, watching documentary films, and sharing global warming articles on her Facebook.

The Blanchard Institute is excellence focused, clinically focused, safety and trauma focused, family focused to clients who meet the clinical and medical criteria for services. At all times all clients will be treated ethically, fairly and honestly without bias to race, gender or diagnosis.